ABSTRACT
Example 1.1: The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Oil spills resulting from the transport of crude and rened oils occur from time to time, particularly in coastal regions. Some very large spills (over 100,000 tonnes) have attracted considerable interest around the world. Notable examples are the Torrey Canyon spill in the English Channel in 1967, the Amoco Cadiz off the coast of Brittany, France, in 1978, and the grounding of the Braer off the Shetland Islands in 1993. These spills all bring similar challenges for damage control for the physical environment and wildlife. There is intense concern from the public, resulting in political pressures on resource managers. There is the need to assess both short-term and long-term environmental impacts. Often there are lengthy legal cases to establish liability and compensation terms.
